Curious Objects : Soiuz–Apollo space badge

Curious Objects

<p style='text-align: justify;'>This Soviet lapel pin commemorates one of the most symbolic technological achievements of the twentieth century. After decades of intense rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States for Space Age supremacy, the two superpowers arranged a meeting in space of the Soviet Soiuz (or Soyuz) spacecraft and the US Apollo (Apollon in Russian). As the two missions’ commanders shook hands after the two craft docked, an important stage in East–West détente was achieved and the Space Race essentially came to an end. The badge shows the Soviet and US flags above their respective spacecraft and their names. It is part of the collection of books, journals and ephemeral material on Soviet architecture and design assembled by Dr Catherine Cooke (1942–2004).</p>